Background: Parks present opportunities for recreational physical activity and mental relaxation; however, they are underutilized.
Methods: The authors examined how changes in management directly and indirectly impacted park use. Using a national sample of 169 parks sampled from 25 cities, the authors linked park management reported via surveys with systematic direct observation of park use, park-based physical activity, and park conditions observed during the spring/summers of 2014 and 2016. The authors used structural equation modeling to estimate longitudinal pathways from changes in park management and conditions to changes in park use.
Results: Increases in subsidized meal offerings and greater use of marketing to promote park events predicted increased person-hours of total weekly park use. Pathways predicting park use varied across user and activity type.
Conclusion: The authors' findings suggest that changing park management practices combined with park conditions may promote park use.
Keywords: built environment; disparities; park use; physical activity.